Genesis 22:1-14 (NRSV)
God saves Isaac from death

After these things God tested Abraham. He said to him, "Abraham!" And he said, "Here I am." He said, "Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains that I shall show you." So Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and his son Isaac; he cut the wood for the burnt offering, and set out and went to the place in the distance that God had shown him. On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place far away. Then Abraham said to his young men, "Stay here with the donkey; the boy and I will go over there; we will worship, and then we will come back to you." Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife. So the two of them walked on together. Isaac said to his father Abraham, "Father!" And he said, "Here I am, my son." He said, "The fire and the wood are here, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?" Abraham said, "God himself will provide the lamb for a burnt offering, my son." So the two of them walked on together. When they came to the place that God had shown him, Abraham built an altar there and laid the wood in order. He bound his son Isaac, and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to kill his son. But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven, and said, "Abraham, Abraham!" And he said, "Here I am." He said, "Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me." And Abraham looked up and saw a ram, caught in a thicket by its horns. Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son. So Abraham called that place "The Lord will provide"; as it is said to this day, "On the mount of the Lord it shall be provided."

Reflection
God will provide the sacrifice. God will provide. And God did provide the sacrifice in Jesus Christ. Abraham showed faith in God. Abraham gave up the life of his son, Isaac, and placed all faith in God. But God provided the sacrifice in Jesus.
At times, it seems, God tests our faith. Are we willing to give ourselves to God? Are we willing to trust in God’s will? Thanks be to God, that we have an example of this faith in Abraham. And we can have this same hope. So we go out, trusting in a God that will provide. We go out and act boldly to do God’s will and to walk God’s way. Even when the journey is tough and seems impossible; we can always remember this account of faith in our brother Abraham. God will provide the sacrifice. God will provide. Thanks be to God!

Prayer

Lord, I give my life with honor to your will and your way, for you have provided new life, now and forever. --- Amen